iMarketSmart

JANUARY 12, 2024

I am grateful for so many kindred spirits who do the same. I wrote this more than 12 years ago. I still believe and try to advance this vision each day. Jim Langley is the president of Langley Innovations.

Philanthropy 52

Philanthropy Psychology Collaborations Culture 52

iMarketSmart

DECEMBER 8, 2023

It is also cited to justify any and all fundraising metrics. He laid down one alignment stick to guide the takeaway of his swing and another to do the same for the follow-through. When we overmeasure or measure the wrong things, we render fundraising mechanical, awkward, unsatisfying, and unsuccessful. It’s apt.

Philanthropy 59

Philanthropy Fundraising Fundraising Psychology 59

Bloomerang

DECEMBER 8, 2023

A nonprofit CEO, Dorethea, asks, “ Should I send holidays gifts to donors ?” Well, Dorethea, it depends on what type of gift and which donor segment (small, mid-size, or major givers) you have in mind. It also depends on your previous conversations or donor surveys. Dorethea was asking about sending gifts to her major donors.

Altruism and Helping 106

Altruism and Helping Psychology Values Activism 106

iMarketSmart

SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Why, of all people, would a donor want to build a relationship with a fundraiser? If you are a donor, it sounds like a questionable proposition. The organizational representative who wants to build a relationship with you is a fundraiser. No one will do a better job of finding the best way for them to give.

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Psychology Culture 52

Clairification

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

The concept is powerful for fundraising! This is the basic psychology underlying “BOGO” (Buy One; Get One free) and “2 for the price of 1” sales. It’s easy to apply these desires – to be smart, frugal and effective — to the creation of compelling fundraising offers. All you have to do is go back to third grade!

Psychology 55

Psychology Education Education Fundraising 55

iMarketSmart

MARCH 1, 2024

It began when two or more people saw a common need or opportunity and resolved to work together to do something about it. Fundraising as we know it today is an outgrowth of growth itself. But somewhere along the way, in too many instances, fundraising began to shift from something we did with donors to something we did to them.

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy Psychology 52

Bloomerang

JANUARY 20, 2023

CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach , also known as Charity Clairity. Today’s question come from a fundraiser and donor who wants advice on how to handle poor donor engagement: Dear Charity Clairity, I’m a fundraiser, but also a donor. I felt valued, and increased my giving incrementally.

Philanthropy 103

Philanthropy Psychology Culture Values 103

iMarketSmart

AUGUST 25, 2023

Not as many people give according to our “strategic pillars” as we would like to believe or as our fundraising reports suggest. In fact, we make a mistake in setting up gift accounting systems according to those pillars in the false belief that most people will give according to what we want.

Disaster Relief 52

Disaster Relief Psychology Philanthropy Culture 52

iMarketSmart

APRIL 12, 2024

If something about fundraising makes you uncomfortable, it isn’t because there’s something wrong with you but because there’s something wrong with the way you’re fundraising, or being expected to. Fundraising should be as easy as asking a friend to hang out. It’s not a matter of if but when.

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Psychology Retail 52

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 9, 2024

What’s your reason for requesting the first meeting with a prospective donor? They assume they are all pretexts for fundraising. Some advocate for the more direct route – “I’m a fundraiser and would like to explain why we are worthy of your support.” Most people see through them.

Psychology 52

Psychology Philanthropy Culture Fundraising 52

Bloomerang

JULY 7, 2023

CFRE, our very own Fundraising Coach , also known as Charity Clairity. Today’s question comes from a nonprofit employee who wants advice on the best words and phrases for successful fundraising appeals: Dear Charity Clairity, I’d like to spiff up my appeal writing. Don’t ask folks to give ‘ something.’ You can do this.” “You

Fundraising 103

Fundraising Fundraising Children Psychology 103

Selfish Giving

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

If I can squeeze in a newsletter, I'll be sure to do so. just give me a holler. If you're a fundraiser with UNICEF , talk about the history of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF and that time Lassie carried an orange collection box on her show. ???? Important Notice: I'm off to Italy?? Sad, right? I say PROBABLY NOT because I ??

Psychology 130

Psychology Food Associations Nonprofits 130

Get Fully Funded

JUNE 11, 2023

It’s Fall and that means it’s time to find the perfect fundraising letter template. If your Fall fundraising appeal is all planned out, well done. I have a fundraising letter template that works. Don’t send your fundraising appeal to people who don’t want to hear from you anymore. And good news! Plan it out.

Fundraising 97

Fundraising Fundraising Nonprofits Psychology 97

Bloomerang

MAY 4, 2023

Donor Cultivation. Are your donors also your customers? For many of us, the problem answering the question “Are your donors also your customers?” For many of us, the problem answering the question “Are your donors also your customers?” When people give to you, they’re not loving the charity. Customer Service.

Public and Nonprofit Management 94

Public and Nonprofit Management Public Policy Psychology Philanthropy 94

Nonprofit Tech for Good

JUNE 18, 2020

Time over time, we’ve seen what nonprofit communities can do when we rally together to support a cause. As large donors tighten their spending, you may be wondering how to get charity donations during a global pandemic. Why are small donations important? By Kaley Aposporos , Content Writer at GoFundMe Charity.

Psychology 138

Psychology Food Nonprofits Values 138

iMarketSmart

JULY 31, 2023

Effective fundraising starts with identity. Compelling fundraising story connects the donation story with the donor’s story. When does a story become the donor’s story? When the donor identifies with its characters and values. In fundraising, identifying with others is powerful. I give up something valuable.

Altruism and Helping 52

Altruism and Helping Psychology Law Values 52

iMarketSmart

JUNE 24, 2022

The lexicon of fundraising is full of one-way terms, as if fundraising is something we do TO donors not WITH them. No one who uses these terms is ill-intended but the repeated use of them can dull our appreciation of donors’ sensibilities. Want someone to presume to tell you how to “plan” your giving?

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Psychology Philanthropy 52

Get Fully Funded

NOVEMBER 2, 2021

It’s one of the most overlooked places to seal the deal with your donor: the fundraising landing page. . This valuable piece of online real estate is where the donor goes to take action and give your organization money. Your fundraising landing page is a perfect opportunity to make a strong connection with your donor.

Fundraising 119

Fundraising Fundraising Psychology Values 119

iMarketSmart

JUNE 30, 2023

It’s the problem with all fundraising systems and process charts. ” Systems and processes are important, and we should seek to ensure that all interactions with donors are purposeful and progressive but the operative word in the phrase “human decision-making” is “ human.”

Philanthropy 52

Philanthropy Psychology Values Culture 52

iMarketSmart

APRIL 29, 2022

Curiosity is a fundraisers greatest asset. Yet even the most curious must learn to ask questions that yield the most insight into donor motivation and to link those propensities to institutional mission. Assuming the prospect agrees, the most strategic question to ask is, “To what cause or purpose do you give the most, and why?”

Psychology 52

Psychology Donor Motivation Culture Philanthropy 52

iMarketSmart

APRIL 7, 2023

I began noticing the disparities early in my fundraising career. Much of the fundraising advice shared at professional conferences did not seem to accurately reflect what I was experiencing with donors. I began asking myself if the seemingly ill-suited advice was: Celebrating the fundraiser more than the donor?

Values 52

Values Fundraising Fundraising Philanthropy 52

iMarketSmart

JUNE 5, 2023

The “one big thing” in fundraising is this: Advance the donor’s hero story. 1] This primal-giving game can include simple alliances. But the game can do more. Impact In the simplest primal-giving game, impact is fixed. Each must choose before knowing what the other will do. 4] Impact encourages giving.

Altruism and Helping 52

Altruism and Helping Public and Social Policy Fundraising Fundraising 52

Bloomerang

JUNE 29, 2021

We’ve all heard how important stories are to fundraising communications. But how do you actually pick a great story? And more importantly, how do you take a great story and turn it into a great fundraising story? . To have a great fundraising story, you need a few key things. You need one person. .

Fundraising 115

Fundraising Fundraising Children Psychology 115

iMarketSmart

APRIL 10, 2023

Socratic fundraising asks questions. Or donors don’t want to meet. Or there are too many donors to meet. Socratic fundraising can still work. The universal steps for a compelling donor experience are: Socratic fundraising guides the donor through these steps.[1] But sometimes that isn’t feasible.

Psychology 52

Psychology Public and Social Policy Environmental Participation and motivation 52

iMarketSmart

AUGUST 23, 2023

The more you can learn about major donors before you meet them, the more effective you will be at that first meeting. The best way to learn the most you can about donors is through surveys. And that means you need to do everything you can to increase your donor survey response rates. See 6 Reasons Why Donor Surveys Work.

Activism 52

Activism Psychology Environmental Communication 52

iMarketSmart

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

Even experienced fundraisers can get squeamish. As Anne Melvin puts it, “For many of us, asking for a bequest is akin to asking, ‘So when are you going to die and what are you going to leave us when you do?’ [1] So, how can we do this? Theory and death reminders Why is this so … uncomfortable? What do we say?

Psychology 52

Psychology Public and Nonprofit Management Public and Social Policy Finance 52

Bloomerang

JUNE 7, 2021

That means you need to make sure you don’t lose any of those donors you took such pains to acquire last year. 8 Fiscal Year-End Donor Retention Action Strategies + Practical Tips. 8 Fiscal Year-End Donor Retention Action Strategies + Practical Tips. And this is the time of year you risk having donors fall off a cliff.

Nonprofits 139

Nonprofits Retention Psychology Foundations 139

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 30, 2023

Let’s talk about wealth We want the donor to talk about assets. 10] How do we do this? How do we talk about wealth? More importantly, how do we get the donor to talk about their wealth? How do we get people to open up about a sensitive topic? Questions can lead the donor through their asset story.

Public and Social Policy 52

Public and Social Policy Psychology Insurance Ethics 52

iMarketSmart

OCTOBER 1, 2022

For someone who was practicing then, it seems largely true though a bit simplistic about donors’ motivations and the labels applied to them. For someone who was practicing then, it seems largely true though a bit simplistic about donors’ motivations and the labels applied to them. Are these still the faces of philanthropy?

Philanthropy 52

Philanthropy Psychology Culture Donor Motivation 52

The Fundraising Authority

MARCH 28, 2021

Why not ask them to also give financially? Here are three reasons why you should make the ask : #1 – Volunteers Already Understand the Good You Do. Here are three reasons why you should make the ask : #1 – Volunteers Already Understand the Good You Do. 2 – Volunteers Have Sweat Equity.

Psychology 75

Psychology Advertising Activism Communication 75

iMarketSmart

JUNE 19, 2023

TOBiologists model sustainable giving in nature with a simple game.[1] If players choose rationally, Player 1 won’t give. At the point of crisis, giving is irrational. The simple game has an unbreakable law: Giving must be seen by partners who are able and willing to reciprocate. Player 2 will die. But there is a problem.

Altruism and Helping 52

Altruism and Helping Insurance Psychology Medical 52

iMarketSmart

MAY 1, 2023

It starts with a question In nature, sustainable giving to unrelated others does occur. Who can observe my giving? 1] The primal-giving game The game is this. Each must choose to give, or not, before knowing what the other will do. It is this: Giving must be seen by partners who are able and willing to reciprocate.

Altruism and Helping 52

Altruism and Helping Law Psychology Food 52

iMarketSmart

APRIL 4, 2022

In fundraising, a gift results when motivation overcomes cost. In fundraising, numbers can be a problem. Giving motivation comes from the social emotion system. This system can block giving motivation. Cost is critical for effective fundraising. Cost is critical for effective fundraising. Number problems.

Philanthropy 52

Philanthropy Sociology Finance Psychology 52

iMarketSmart

JANUARY 25, 2022

Fundraising is all about making sure your supporters feel good. Of course, that’s easier said than done—especially when you consider how your wealthy donors feel about cost. If you help them reduce cost, they’ll feel really good (and then they’ll give more). But they do! I’ve said it before.

Philanthropy 52

Philanthropy Psychology Fundraising Fundraising 52

Bloomerang

JUNE 28, 2021

In the first article of this three-part series, I explored why digital transformation must be an immediate priority and looked at some ways to get there. In the second article, I explored the importance of building a donor experience that resonates with today’s constituents. . Donor experience. See here for more.

Culture 112

Culture Philanthropy Nonprofit Administration and Development Nonprofits 112

iMarketSmart

JUNE 13, 2022

But a good fundraising story must do something specific. A good fundraising story, ultimately, is about the donor’s gift. In a story about the donor’s gift, who is the key character? It’s the donor. It’s the donor’s action of making the gift. When is a story the donor’s story? That’s obvious.

Fundraising 52

Fundraising Fundraising Universities Psychology 52

iMarketSmart

MARCH 13, 2022

What do we mean by that word? When do we have it? When do we not? Different sources give different answers. Different sources give different answers. Fundraising story. Compelling fundraising story does something special. It leads to giving. Philanthropy originates in story. What is it?

Psychology 52

Psychology Nonprofit Administration and Development Activism Philanthropy 52